George James

Today is a very special day. It is Veteran’s Day, where we honor those who have served in the Armed Forces for our country.  This day marks the anniversary of the signing of the armistice that ended World War I in 1918.  

The Blue Water area has a tradition of offering many opportunities to thank our veterans including free haircuts at places like Shear Karma Salon in Port Huron and free and discounted meals at many local restaurants like Daybreak Cafe and Golden Corral in Fort Gratiot. Port Huron Area School District’s Fort Gratiot Middle School has an annual event that draws a crowd every year. Veterans and those who are on current, active duty are invited to attend and be honored for their service. 

Andrea Goossens, a counselor at Fort Gratiot Middle School, says that the school also has a “Wall of Honor” for those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Ms. Goossens said she is proud to be a part of the event that has been held for over a decade. The eighth-graders at the school are invited to this somber event and the intent is to foster an understanding of the sacrifices that military members and their families make every day.  

Last year, the students welcomed a few World War II veterans in attendance, including Douglas Stafford of the U.S. Army, who passed away just two weeks after the event at the age of 92. The assembly was his last public event before falling ill.

Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.

Divers, researchers and enthusiasts alike have worked for years to find out more about the final moments of the ships lost in the White Hurricane of 1913. With new technology, some stories are able to be told for the very first time and they’re now being revealed to Blue Water Area Residents through a new exhibit and the Port Huron Museum.

Residents are being invited to tour the exhibit and explore the largest storm in Great Lakes history and the efforts over the last 100 years to try and answer all of the remaining questions. ebw.tv recently had the opportunity to hear from underwater diver Jared Daniel who has dedicated many hours of his life to discovering lost shipwrecks.

Daniel, through countless hours of research, has found at least thirteen shipwrecks, but it took him quite some time to find the one he was really looking for: The Hydrus. After combing more than 670 square miles of water, he finally was triumphant and he’s revealing what it looks like along with a little history on the Storm of 1913. Learn more in this feature.

Reporting for WGRT, ebw.tv.

Ever get tired of driving? Would it make you feel better if you were getting paid? There are plenty of apps and activity trackers that can track your driving, but now there’s one that will actually pay you for the miles you log while driving and not texting. 

According to OnMyWay, which is based in Woodland Hills, CA, the app awards its users with cash — five cents for every mile you drive while not texting and driving. Save up enough money and you can exchange them for real-life products. 

According to OnMyWay, users can also get paid as a passenger and can refer friends who will earn you 2 cents for every mile they don’t text and drive.

Chloe Palmer, Co-founder of OnMyWay says the company “believes that by giving our users positive rewards, we can end this horrific epidemic that is the #1 cause of death for young people ages 16-25. This just makes sense for our users, our advertisers and our community… Everybody Wins!!!” OnMyWay has created an economy that makes a difference and is profitable at the same time. A for-profit company with a cause.

Reporting for WGRT, ebw.tv.

Snow has already started affecting driving here in the Blue Water area with multiple accidents reported around the area Thursday morning, including two young drivers on their way to school and a tragic, fatal accident in Burtchville Township. Local police and first responders were kept busy with reports of black ice on the roads resulting in spinouts and crashes.

As Governor Gretchen Whitmer has declared this week Winter Hazards Awareness Week, the start of the winter season is a stark reminder to be prepared and respect the elements.The Michigan State Police and the Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division are encouraging Michiganders to make winter emergency preparedness a priority.  Traveling on snowy and icy roads is unavoidable in our beautiful four-season state, but you can be prepared by weatherizing your vehicles in the fall.  

This includes making sure your tires have sufficient tread, filling up your windshield washing fluid, and making sure you have the right amount of antifreeze running through your radiator. Getting your vehicle’s belts, hoses, and battery checked are a good idea also, as no one wants to be stuck with a dead battery on a cold morning. When road conditions are poor, police are busier. Taking the steps to be prepared can take a bit of the load off of our emergency responders. Keeping your gas tank filled is also recommended during the colder months.  Although gasoline isn’t likely to freeze, there are a host of problems that can occur in your vehicle if you let the fuel level get too low. AAA recommends that drivers remember to decrease speed on snowy roads, increase following distances, slow acceleration and deceleration, know how to handle anti-lock brakes, and if possible, stay off the roads in severe weather. Driving in the winter takes a little extra work in the Blue Water Area, but your travels should be smoother if you take some time to be prepared.

Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.

K-9 Heiko and Officer Justin Reeves of the Marysville Police Department were the talk of the town during the month of October as they toured the community raising awareness about a national competition the pair were participating in for a new Chevy Tahoe. Well the results are in…and we have a winner!  

According to the results from Vested Interest in K9s, Reeves and Heiko were the second-place winners, but thanks to an anonymous donation, the pair will still be getting a brand-new ride. The number of votes were totalled at almost 279,000 with 30 contestants competing. Reeves and Heiko received just over 26,000 votes. Michael Kasdorf and K9 Lando of the Hazel Park Police Department, also Michiganders,  were the first place contestants.

Officer Reeves said they “likely won’t have the Tahoe for several months yet considering turn around time after ordering and customization.” He and Heiko found out they were winners when “the President of Vested Interest In K9s personally called [him] after the contest ended. As far as comments to the public, Reeves and Heiko “would simply like to thank and extend [their] gratitude for all of the support and assistance during the month long contest as it’s a victory earned by the entire community. 

Vested Interest in K9s is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide bullet and stab protective vests to dogs of law enforcement, and related agencies throughout the United States. In addition to the 3,500 vests they have provided since 2009, they also have helped fund K9 medical insurance premiums, K9 medical first-aid kits, and K9 opioid reversal NARCAN kits.

Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.

The future of the United States Coast Guard Cutter, Bramble, is still a question mark after its scheduled auction in Alabama has been postponed. The ship has a colorful history including roles as a museum ship in the Blue Water Area for many years. Many school children and families got to see the living conditions of a real Coast Guard crew when touring the boat. Before that, it was involved in atomic bomb testing and traveling barely charted waters.  The Bramble was one of the first three ships to successfully circumnavigate the North American continent, and is an important part of global maritime history. 

 The Bramble was purchased in 2018 by a private individual who planned to recreate the trip through the Northwest Passage that the Bramble took in 1957. A film crew was documenting the steps to refurbish the Bramble which can be seen on the facebook page “Bramble Reborn”. Costs for the refurbishment added up and bills went unpaid, causing the ship to be seized and held in dockage in Mobile, Alabama earlier this fall.  

According to The Maritime Executive publication, the plaintiff in the federal case, Inchcape Shipping Services, Inc. says they “hope that a passionate person or institution will be able to save her.” The Bramble was scheduled for auction this week, but the auction has been reported to be postponed.

Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.